Chapter by Alice Gorman in In Jim Ellis and Noreen Humble (eds) Mythologies of Outer Space.
Astronomy and the Proliferation of Space Objects: Strategies for Addressing Orbital Light and Spectrum Pollution
This report is a public version of a discussion paper prepared for the Astro-Sat Workshop held on November 16th and 17th, 2023 in Vancouver, Canada. Workshop participants included members of the International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) Center for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky (CPS), and of the CPS Work Package 2 (WP2), as well as other experts from multiple disciplines and backgrounds.
© Aaron Boley and Michael Byers, Outer Space Institute Report, November 2024.
Action Item Paragraphs — OSI Workshop on Orbital Light and Spectrum Pollution
On November 16 and 17, 2023, the Outer Space Institute (OSI) hosted a transdisciplinary workshop that addressed the proliferating issue of orbital light and spectrum pollution, resulting from the rapid increase in satellites placed in Earth orbits.
These paragraphs were authored by participants of the workshop. They do not reflect consensus-based or agreed-on recommendations. Rather, they represent a broad collection of rough ideas, suggestions, and potential action items with the aim of advancing the protection of dark and quiet skies from orbital light and spectrum pollution, through education, advocacy, collaboration, and more.
The first international treaty on AI governance – a basis for convergence or dissention?
Paul Meyer. Open Canada
Dueling Diplomacy on Outer Space Security
Paul Meyer. Centre for International Policy Studies Blog.
Security Options for a Troubled World
Discussion hosted by Canadian Pugwash and the Centre for International Policy Studies at the University of Ottawa, with Paul Meyer as a panelist.
Global Cooperation and Space Sustainability; Panel on New Ways Forward to Global Cooperation to Protect Earth from Collisions In and From Space
UNGA79 Science Summit panel featuring OSI Fellow David Kendall
Outer Space and the Arctic: Connections, Opportunities, Challenges
Michael Byers, Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) No. 303
Comment on Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s (ISED) consultation on the Policy, Licensing and Technical Framework for Supplemental Mobile Coverage by Satellite (SMCS)
OSI Fellows and Junior Fellows submitted this comment in response to ISED’s proposed framework for the allocation of certain radio frequency bands to mobile services coverage via satellite, with the intention of highlighting the potential threats to radio and optical astronomy that could come from these satellites.
This comment was further endorsed by the President of the Canadian Astronomical Society – Société Canadienne d’Astronomie (CASCA), the Executive Director of the Association of Canadian Universities for Research in Astronomy (ACURA), and astronomers from across Canada.
Sustainability of Space: Current and Future Implications for Canada
Keynote presentation given by OSI Fellow David Kendall at the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute’s (CASI) ASTRO2024, Toronto, Ontario
OSI Submission on Core Principles for Space Resource Activities
A team of OSI researchers has made a short submission to the Working Group on Legal Aspects of Space Resource Activities established under the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS).
The submission focuses on identifying existing core principles for space resource activities. It does not analyse these core principles, nor does it provide a comprehensive overview of all of the rules and principles that may potentially be relevant to space resource activities. This limited scope is consistent with the current ambitions of the Working Group, which also focus on core principles.
The Final Frontier… For Law
McGill News with insights from Michael Byers